James Wilson
Private 800
78th Highland Regiment of Foot
2nd
Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
Compiled from original documents
by
Gregory Salmers, BA MLS
30 October 2014
The Regiment at
Edinburgh Castle, 1860
Wilson, James – Private 800, 78th
Highland Regiment of Foot
|
Source of Information The following information is summarized from the Adjutant’s Roll, pay records, Married Roll, Enlistment Paper, Attestation of the Recruit, Statement of Service, Record of Service, Military History Sheet, Medical History, Muster, comprising the service record of James Wilson, Private 800, of the 2nd Battalion, 78th Regiment of Foot, Seaforth Highlanders. These documents were requested from the Archives at Kew, England, on 1 September 2014, for the sum of $225 by Greg Salmers, and received 19 September 2014 at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Birthdate of Thomas Wilson, son of James Wilson, as confirmed by a separate document, a registered copy of an entry of birth, Father of Patricia May Wilson, Mother of Gregory Clive Salmers: 29 January 1882; at Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, with birth registered at military station at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. [Birth Certificate on hand] |
Private James Wilson
This research was done to guide a trip to India in November 2014 during which visits to Lucknow and Sitapur will be undertaken. The research was completed on 8 September 2014 by Erica Peacock, Advice and Records Knowledge Researcher, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. TW9 4DU. 44 (0) 8876 3444. www.nationalarcives.gov.uk Thirty-one pages of documentation were produced.
Note that in 1881 the 78th Regiment of Foot, and the 71st and 72nd were combined to form the Second Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. Hence James Wilson enlisted to join the 78th Regiment of Foot, and finished his service with the Second Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.
From the Enlistment Paper & Attestation
of the Recruit
For a brief history of the 78th Highland Regiment of Foot in the years immediately prior to 1860, read the account of Robert Brownlee, who served with the Regiment at the sieges of Bareilly and at Lucknow, both places James Wilson would see in his service. In addition, Brownlee and James Wilson served together at Aldershot, Shorncliffe, Dover, Dublin, Gibraltar, Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax See http://www.brownlee.com.au/Pages/Biographies/Robert-Brownlee-1833-1908.html .
Birth date: Approximately 1843
Birth place: In the parish of St. Cuthberts in or near Edinburgh, in the county of Edinburgh.
Married: No
Apprentice: No
Entered military service: 2 July 1860, Edinburgh, Scotland at twelve o’clock by
Thomas Hanaley of the 78th Regiment.
Occupation: Labourer
Age: 17
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown
Expected service term: 11 years as of 5 July 1860 1:15 pm at Edinburgh Castle.
Previous service: Edinburgh County Militia (See discharge)
Any distinctive mark: a large scar over left ? and outside right thigh
He was found fit according to the medical certificate of 2nd July 1860 at Edinburgh Castle.
On 5 March 1868 James Wilson indicated he wished to engage for a further 14 years and 121 days, dated at Montreal, for the 78th Highlanders. At that time he received 8 pounds, nine shillings, and no pence, comprising 1 pound bounty, 1 pound gratuity, bounty in lieu of furlough 3 pounds, and 1 pound allowance for 20 days on discharge, with 2 pounds 9 shillings commutation in lieu of Free Kit.
His pay statement dated, perhaps, 11 May 1886, was completed by a person in staff pay of the 72nd Regiment.
Edinburgh
Castle, Scotland, where James Wilson enlisted, and near to his birthplace, the
Parish of St. Cuthberts
From the Statement of Service, Record of
Service and Military History Sheet
Places of Service Dates Duration
Home 5 Jul 1860 – 2 Aug 1865 5 years 29 days
Gibraltar 3 Aug 1865 – 5 Jul 1867 1 year 337 days
Canada 6 Jul 1867 – 8 May 1869 1 year 307 days
Nova Scotia 9 May 1869 – 21 Dec 1871 2 years 227 days
Home 22 Dec 1871 – 14 Feb 1879 7 years 55 days
East Indies 15 Feb 1879 – 26 Aug 1880 1 year 193 days
S. Afghanistan 27 Aug 1880 – 1 Oct 1880 0 years 364 days
East Indies 2 Oct 1880 – 29 Apr 1886 5 years 210 days
Home 30 Apr 1886 – 11 May 1886 0 years 5 days
Place of discharge: Gosport (near Plymouth, in the county of Hampshire, southern England.)
Character on being discharged: Very good.
Claimed discharge after having prolonged his service beyond 21 Years.
In confinement 2-4 Feb 1873. Belfast. Imprisonment 5-25 Feb 1873. Belfast. Released from imprisonment on 26Feb 1873, he was restored on G C Pay 6 Feb 1875 and received good conduct pay 6 Feb 1877. |
He arrived in India 18 March 1879, and participated in the Afghan Campaign: 1879-1880. He was awarded the Afghan Medal: 1878-79-80. His medal has not been located. The medal depicted to the left is a sample of a medal from the Afghan Campaign. Married to Elizabeth Martin, Register of Office, Belfast, Ireland, 30 January 1873. Placed on Married Roll: 28 June 1872. From the Adjustant’s Roll, Married Roll, Muster Rolls. 2nd Seaforth Regiment of Highlanders. Lucknow. 1Apr-30Jun1882. 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Lucknow. 1 Jul-30Sep1882. 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Lucknow. 1Oct-31Dec1882. 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Lucknow. 1Jan-31Mar1883. Five children listed on 31 March 1883 as follows: 8 years 11 months 7 years 6 months 5 years 9 month 3 years 11 months 1 child born 29 January 1882. Thomas Wilson! Birthdate of Thomas Wilson, as confirmed by a separate document, a registered copy of an entry of birth, Father of Patricia Wilson, Mother of Gregory Clive Salmers: 29 January 1882; at Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, with birth registered at military station at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. [Birth Certificate on hand] Desertions: 18 Oct 1860 to 11 Nov 1860 perhaps at Edinburgh. Imprisoned 12 Nov 1860 to 13 Mar 1861. 22 Oct 1870 to 8 Nov 1870 perhaps at Halifax. Imprisoned for 11 months 14 Nov 1870 to 15 Oct 1871. Absent without leave: 29 Jan 1872 to 29 Jan 1872 Belfast 29 Apr 1872 to 1 May 1872 Belfast 18 Oct 1872 to 22 Oct 1872 Belfast 30 Jan 1873 to 1 Feb 1873 Belfast |
Medical conditions with locations, date of arrival,
duration, and treatments and causes
Edinburgh Castle 2 July 1860 August 9 – August 10 Colera
Aldershot May 1861 26 May – 29 May Bubo [illegible]
Shorncliffe January 1862 16 January – 22 January Acute Bronchitis
Abscess
Dover 26 May 1863 28 August – 11 November Bubo
29 March – 2 April [illegible]/A fall
Dublin 8 Aug 1864 16 Jan – 2 Feb 1865 [illegible]/Contagion
12-20 July 1865 [illegible]/Accidental
Gibraltar 17 Aug 1865 3-11 Feb 1865 [illegible]
Montreal 25 July 1867 10-12 April 1868 [illegible]/Contagion
Quebec 30 June 1868
Montreal 6 October 1868
Halifax 12 May 1869
St John NB
Halifax 18 August 1870
Belfast 21 December 1871 25-31 October 1872 Boil
Fort George 8 May 1873
Aldershot 15 May 1874
Dover 27 July 1875
Edinburgh 12 October 1876
Fort George 19 September 1877 27 Nov 1877 Re-vaccinated
Arrived in India 18 March 1879
Baroda 2 March 1880
Southern Afghanistan 24 August 1880
Poona 27 December 1880 No admissions
Sitapur 21 July 1881 No admissions
Lucknow 20 February 1882
Rawalpindi (? Camp) 16 March 1885 30 March – 4 April Diarrhea/Astringent/
Exposure to cold
Bareilly 21 April 1885
Baroda? 24 March 1886
Vaccinations: Prior to age 17, in left arm, and again in 1877.
Reason for discharge: Served the maximum period of service, 25 years, 311 days. Last date in his Military History Sheet is 11 May 1886.
Images of
Locations Mentioned
Fort George, Scotland Gosport, England
78th Highlanders' in camp, Point Levis, Montreal, Quebec – 1867
Gibraltar Barracks – 1886
Brownlee(left) with fellow NCO’s – Montreal – 1867 Drummers of the 78th Regiment of Foot, 1860 –
Bass Drummer, side Drummer in Drill Order, 1860
Halifax Citadel - parade ground
Halifax Citadel – James Wilson was jailed here.
Members of the Regiment 1859
I am not
a Highlander, but I wish I was one.
Major-General Sir Henry Havelock, Cawnpore, Indian Mutiny, July 17, 1857.
The Residency, Lucknow. Scene of the siege of 1857, location of Thomas Wilson’s
birth registration.
Sources
Enlistment
Paper, Attestation of the Recruit, Statement of Service, Record of Service,
Military History Sheet, Medical History, Adjutant’s Rolls, comprising the
service record of James Wilson, Private 800of the 2nd Battalion,
Seaforth Highlanders. Acquired from the National Archives, Kew, Richmond,
Surrey. 8 September 2014.
Biography of
Robert Brownlee, 1838-1909. An account of Robert Brownlee's life, family and
military career. http://www.brownlee.com.au/Pages/Biographies/Robert-Brownlee-1833-1908.html .
Accessed 28 September 2014.
Certified Copy
of an Entry in an Army Register Book of Births deposited in the General
Register Office, Somerset House, London. Certified extract from the Register of
Births of the 2nd Bn. Seaforth Highlanders registered at the
Military Station at Lucknow for the six months ending 30th June
1882. Given under Seal, 16 April
1945. This document shows Thomas Wilson
was born 28 January 1882 at Sitapur, James Wilson, Private 800, the father,
Elizabeth Martin, the mother. Registered
at Lucknow, 13 March 1882 by (Sgd) Alexr. Ferrier, Presby. Chaplain,
2/Sea.High. Lucknow. - residence and description of informant. (Sgd) A.C.
Christopher Lieut. & Adjt. 2/Sea. High. - the signature of the officer
making the return.
Additional Research
From: Researchers <Researchers@thehighlandersmuseum.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 14:37:38 +0000
To: gregory.salmers@gmail.com<gregory.salmers@gmail.com>
Subject: 2nd Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders -
India 1879-1885
Dear Greg
I refer to
your e-mail enquiry of 22nd August 2014 which was passed to me today
for action. My sincere apologies for the delay in responding but since the stat
of the WW1 Commemorations the Highlanders Museums has been inundated with
enquiries and unfortunately this coincided with one of our three Volunteer
Researchers moving to another part of the UK.
Anyway, I
will try my best to respond to your enquiry and hope this response reaches you
before you leave for India. The details I am able to share with you, which are
extracted from the book Queen’s Own Highlanders – Seaforth and Cameron by Angus
Fairrie, are as follows:
a. The 78th in Afghanistan –
1879 to 1881
When the78th arrived in India the campaign in
Afghanistan, in which the 72nd was serving , was in progress. When
the news arrived of the attack on a British column at Mainwand, the 78th
was also ordered to move to Afghanistan. The regiment was at first employed on
protection of the lines of communications. After the Battle of Khandhar the 78th
moved into Afghanistan, spending an extremely cold winter in tents at Khandahar
, before returning to Sitapur in India in May 1881.
b. The 78th becomes the 2nd
Battalion Seaforth Highlanders in 1881
Under the Army Reforms of 1881 the 78th
Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs) was amalgamated with the 72nd Duke of
Albany’s Own Highlanders. The 78th became the 2nd
Battalion Seaforth Highlanders and the 72nd became the 1st
Battalion.
c. 2nd Seaforth at Lucknow
and Bareilly – 1882 to 1889
In
early 1882 the 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders moved from Sitapur
to Lucknow. When the 1st moved to Aden to complete its Indian tour,
it left behind with the 2nd Battalion a large number of men who
volunteered to remain in India.
In
1882, when the1st Battalion in Aden was ordered to join the Indian contingent
in the British expeditionary force to Egypt, it was below strength for active
service, and so the 2nd Seaforth supplied two companies of
reinforcements. They joined 1st Battalion in Aden, taking part in
the campaign in Egypt and in the battle of Tel-el Kebir (13.09.1882), before
returning to the 2nd Seaforth in Lucknow. In 1885 the 2nd
Seaforth moved from Lucknow to Bareilly, where the battalion remained until
1889.
I trust
that you will find the above helpful with your quest. If you care to forward
your great grandfather’s name I will happily check the Medal Rolls we have for
this period and if he features will gladly forward copies to the address you
provided.
With
kindest regards and apologies again for the delay in responding.
Yours
sincerely
Bob Shanks
Robert
Shanks
Hon
Researcher
for
Manager
The
Highlanders' Museum
Tel
Office: 01667 460466
Postal
Address: Fort George, Ardersier, Near Inverness IV2 7TD
e-Mail: researchers@thehighlandersmuseum.com
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as a Scottish Charity SC042160